Page 61 - WPA Book
P. 61
Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
CHURCHES
The Old Linville Baptist Church
Page Three
“Thus was the labours of those Gentlemen aforenamed for the Space of eleven years, from the First Settler, as
above named, and about one year before the Constitution of the Church. William Castle Berry and his wife
came and settled on Muddy Creek in Augusta County, being both Members of New Britain Church, and of
these were the Church at first built. (Note: It may be assumed from this, that William Castle Berry built the
church.) And others there were none, till gathered by the preaching of the Word, where of was only two, which
were added to the Church at the first Communion, as hath been already related. Our Rev. Pastor Mr. John
Alderson, and Mrs. Jane Alderson, his wife, being both Members of New Britain Church in the County of
Bucks; moved their residence, and came to us the same Spring before we were constituted &c.;”
“Thus have I noted, First, the First comeing here of the Religion of the Baptist, in the First Settlers. Secondly,
who they were. Thirdly, the coming of the Word, by the first Baptist Ministers. Fourthly, who they were.
Fifthly, when they were constituted into Church Order. Sixthly, by whom they were constituted. Seventhly,
who it was God in his great Mercy and wisdom, chose as his Instrument, to carry on his work in the church for
their first Minister. And eighthly, when she actually as a ‘Church of Christ, entered into her Military State.”
“And now, Father of Mercies, own us in Christ, for thine, who has purchased up with his own blood. Let us Oh
God of Love, rest assured of Thy love, in our righteousness. Let us experience thy Love to us, by a sense of
our Love flowing to Thee; and to one another, in Christ our Head; who is Love, according to his command
given us. John 1, 4 & 21. And this Commandment have we from Him, that he loveth God, loves his Brother
also. From which Text I shall conclude with the following Poem on the nature of Love; having briefly shown
our Rise here &c.;”
It may be noted that, while the above account states that Samuel Newman and his wife were the first members
of any Baptist Church that settled in the neighborhood, this does not necessarily mean that John Harrison was
not an earlier settler. It is established that Harrison was referred to as an old man at the time of the organization
of the church and that at an advanced age he made the long hazardous journey from Augusta County at Oyster
Bay, Long Island, for baptism, “some short time” after Newman’s settlement in 1744 and before 1756.
Baptists, like other Christian denominations in the early settlement days, had their difficulties and their sore
trials to meet and to overcome, and the Linville Church was no exception. Being on the eastern edge of the
frontier west of the “Ridge,” their services and their church work were often interfered with and sometimes
prevented altogether by Indian raids and warfare and by other causes; and sometimes too, they were ridiculed
and persecuted by others. But as always, they were courageous and not easily discouraged and fought their
way to the establishment of various other churches in the county.
The Linville Church was composed of some of the best men and women in the community and of that end of
the county. John Lincoln, son of “Virginia” John, was for years clerk of the church, and the services were held
in his father’s home and later in his brother, Jacob's’ home, as well as in the home of the Harrison's and others.
Old church records and session books are always interesting to read and invariably reveal to a very great
degree an accurate history of the times.
Beginning last week, one of the old landmarks in Harrisonburg is being torn down – the old stone Presbyterian
Church, the first of that denomination to be built in Harrisonburg. Its walls were two feet thick and the
masonry of the best. A write-up of this old church was sent in only recently.
Page 60 of 482
CHURCHES
The Old Linville Baptist Church
Page Three
“Thus was the labours of those Gentlemen aforenamed for the Space of eleven years, from the First Settler, as
above named, and about one year before the Constitution of the Church. William Castle Berry and his wife
came and settled on Muddy Creek in Augusta County, being both Members of New Britain Church, and of
these were the Church at first built. (Note: It may be assumed from this, that William Castle Berry built the
church.) And others there were none, till gathered by the preaching of the Word, where of was only two, which
were added to the Church at the first Communion, as hath been already related. Our Rev. Pastor Mr. John
Alderson, and Mrs. Jane Alderson, his wife, being both Members of New Britain Church in the County of
Bucks; moved their residence, and came to us the same Spring before we were constituted &c.;”
“Thus have I noted, First, the First comeing here of the Religion of the Baptist, in the First Settlers. Secondly,
who they were. Thirdly, the coming of the Word, by the first Baptist Ministers. Fourthly, who they were.
Fifthly, when they were constituted into Church Order. Sixthly, by whom they were constituted. Seventhly,
who it was God in his great Mercy and wisdom, chose as his Instrument, to carry on his work in the church for
their first Minister. And eighthly, when she actually as a ‘Church of Christ, entered into her Military State.”
“And now, Father of Mercies, own us in Christ, for thine, who has purchased up with his own blood. Let us Oh
God of Love, rest assured of Thy love, in our righteousness. Let us experience thy Love to us, by a sense of
our Love flowing to Thee; and to one another, in Christ our Head; who is Love, according to his command
given us. John 1, 4 & 21. And this Commandment have we from Him, that he loveth God, loves his Brother
also. From which Text I shall conclude with the following Poem on the nature of Love; having briefly shown
our Rise here &c.;”
It may be noted that, while the above account states that Samuel Newman and his wife were the first members
of any Baptist Church that settled in the neighborhood, this does not necessarily mean that John Harrison was
not an earlier settler. It is established that Harrison was referred to as an old man at the time of the organization
of the church and that at an advanced age he made the long hazardous journey from Augusta County at Oyster
Bay, Long Island, for baptism, “some short time” after Newman’s settlement in 1744 and before 1756.
Baptists, like other Christian denominations in the early settlement days, had their difficulties and their sore
trials to meet and to overcome, and the Linville Church was no exception. Being on the eastern edge of the
frontier west of the “Ridge,” their services and their church work were often interfered with and sometimes
prevented altogether by Indian raids and warfare and by other causes; and sometimes too, they were ridiculed
and persecuted by others. But as always, they were courageous and not easily discouraged and fought their
way to the establishment of various other churches in the county.
The Linville Church was composed of some of the best men and women in the community and of that end of
the county. John Lincoln, son of “Virginia” John, was for years clerk of the church, and the services were held
in his father’s home and later in his brother, Jacob's’ home, as well as in the home of the Harrison's and others.
Old church records and session books are always interesting to read and invariably reveal to a very great
degree an accurate history of the times.
Beginning last week, one of the old landmarks in Harrisonburg is being torn down – the old stone Presbyterian
Church, the first of that denomination to be built in Harrisonburg. Its walls were two feet thick and the
masonry of the best. A write-up of this old church was sent in only recently.
Page 60 of 482
